Apartment blaze displaces dozens of families

Blaze displaces dozens of familiesFirefighter sent to hospital in apartment fire

MIKE GLENN , HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Published 5:30 am, Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Photo: Eric Kayne, Chronicle

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Houston firefighters battle an apartment fire Wednesday at the Driscoll Place Apartments. Two buildings were damaged and contained 48 apartment units, 37 of which were occupied by families.

Houston firefighters battle an apartment fire Wednesday at the Driscoll Place Apartments. Two buildings were damaged and contained 48 apartment units, 37 of which were occupied by families.

Photo: Eric Kayne, Chronicle

Apartment blaze displaces dozens of families

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An apartment fire that sent thick clouds of smoke rolling into the sky on Wednesday left dozens of families temporarily without homes and sent a firefighter to the hospital. The blaze erupted shortly before 3 p.m. in one of the buildings at the Driscoll Place Apartments, 1303 Gears. Firefighters arrived at the scene and began a search of Building 17, engulfed in flames. “Due to the heavy fire, they had to evacuate the building,” said HFD Assistant Chief Kevin Alexander. The firefighters continued the attack outside, raking the burning building with water cannons. The high winds quickly caused the flames to jump to Building 16, where LaVell Byrd and his fiance live. “I heard some crackling sounds, and I asked her, ‘Are you cooking?’ ” Byrd said. He went outside and saw a wall of flames ripping through his building. Byrd then went door-to-door to warn his neighbors. “When something like this happens, your adrenaline gets to flowing so you’re not worried about yourself,” Byrd said. “You’re just trying to make sure that everybody is out.” A firefighter was treated at the hospital after debris from the fire got into his eye. No other injuries were reported, HFD officials said. The two buildings had 48 units. Of those, 37 were occupied by families who were displaced by the fire. “We can deal with the material things later. We just have to start over,” Byrd said. “I just thank God that everybody is safe.” Red Cross officials said apartment managers are expected to relocate the residents who lost their homes. The fire apparently began on the top floor of Building 17. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, HFD officials said.